1
Airlines
14×
Per week
₱48.9k
From (live)
via OZ
13h
Nonstop
🇺🇸
LAX · North America
- Country
- United States
- Capital
- Washington, D.C.
- Currency
- USD
- Visa for PH
- Visa required (apply via embassy/VFS)
- OFW relevance
- Low — mostly tourism / balikbayan
When are fares cheapest?
Click a month → live Aviasales fares for the 15th
Compare carriers on this route
Philippine Airlines
PR
- Frequency
- 14× / week
- Baggage
- 23kg +10
- OFW program
- ✓
Manila to Los Angeles Flights — Schedule, Carriers, Best Time | 2026
Manila to Los Angeles Flights — 2026
Manila (MNL) to Los Angeles (LAX) is the Philippines’ biggest balikbayan corridor, flown nonstop by Philippine Airlines with around 14 weekly departures and a 13-hour block. Off-peak roundtrip economy fares sit between PHP 55,000-85,000, surging past PHP 130,000 during Pasko balikbayan season. SoCal hosts the largest Filipino-American diaspora, kaya laging busy ang route.
Route at a glance
- Distance & duration: ~13 hours nonstop, MNL to LAX.
- Carriers nonstop: Philippine Airlines (PR) only. United and Delta connect via Tokyo or Seoul.
- Frequency: ~14 weekly departures (twice-daily PAL).
- Travel profile: Balikbayan-dominant, family visits + Christmas reunion runs.
Search live fares with Aviasales →
Best time to book
Cheapest pockets are mid-January through March at September through early November, when fares dip to PHP 52,000-68,000 roundtrip. Avoid the Dec 1-Jan 8 Pasko balikbayan rush, kasi the entire SoCal Fil-Am community books home flights — fares can hit PHP 150,000+. June graduations at Holy Week (April) are also expensive. For tipid pricing, book 4-6 months ahead po. Tuesday and Wednesday departures shave PHP 4,000-7,000 versus weekend banks. Connecting via NRT or ICN with United/Korean Air is sometimes 15-20% cheaper than the PAL nonstop, kapag flexible ka sa schedule.
Carriers compared
| Feature | Philippine Airlines (PR) — nonstop | United (UA) — via NRT/SFO | Delta (DL) — via ICN/HND |
|---|---|---|---|
| Typical economy roundtrip | PHP 60,000-90,000 | PHP 52,000-78,000 | PHP 55,000-82,000 |
| Base baggage economy | 2 x 23 kg (US route uplift to 2x32 kg) | 2 x 23 kg | 2 x 23 kg |
| Total travel time | 13h direct | 18-22h with layover | 19-23h with layover |
| Frequency ex-MNL | ~14 weekly nonstop | Multiple daily via hub | Multiple daily via hub |
| Balikbayan-friendly | High — Tagalog crew, balikbayan box-friendly | Mid — long layover | Mid — Korean transit |
Fare bracket (peso-first)
- Low (Feb-Mar, Sep-early Nov): PHP 52,000-68,000 (USD 930-1,215).
- Mid (May-Jul, late Oct): PHP 70,000-95,000 (USD 1,250-1,700).
- Peak (Dec 1-Jan 8 Pasko, June reunions): PHP 110,000-150,000 (USD 1,965-2,680).
Balikbayan-specific notes
Kabayan, the December rush is no joke — book by August para tipid. PAL’s two-bag US allowance (32 kg each on Premium Economy, 23 kg on Economy) is hard to beat for balikbayan-box runs. Bring a printed copy of your I-94 record at green card / visa, kasi US CBP pre-clearance starts at NAIA Terminal 1. Pasalubong tip: Philippine snacks, dried mangoes, at chocolate are usually fine through US customs, pero meat products at fresh fruit are confiscated. Bayanihan Care reps at NAIA help OFs with first-time US travel paperwork.
FAQ
Magkano ang ticket Manila to LA? Roughly PHP 55,000-85,000 (USD 980-1,520) roundtrip economy off-peak; Pasko peak hits PHP 110,000-150,000.
Anong airline ang nag-fly nonstop sa LAX? PAL lang ang nonstop, twice-daily. UA at DL connect via Tokyo or Seoul — minsan mas mura pero may layover.
Pwede ba magdala ng balikbayan box sa flight? Yes — PAL allows 2x32 kg on US routes (Premium Economy) at 2x23 kg Economy. Door-to-door cargo is mas mura pero 6-8 weeks tagal.
Kailan pinaka-mura ang flight? February-March at September-October. Avoid Nov-Jan Pasko at June graduation season.
Related guides on this site
- Balikbayan flights from the Philippines →
- Flights to United States →
- Philippine Airlines carrier guide →
- Ninoy Aquino International Airport (MNL) →
Updated 9 May 2026. Maria Santos is a pseudonymous editorial persona; content is researched and edited by Filipino travel and OFW specialists. About the author →.